Dominic West admits his ‘biggest sadness’ is splitting from mother of his first child – despite now being married to aristocrat wife with whom he has four kids

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Dominic West has confessed his greatest regret is the end of his relationship with the mother of his oldest child, even though he later married someone else.

The Wire star, 56, is married to aristocrat Catherine FitzGerald and the pair share four children.

On the Rosebud podcast with Gyles Brandreth, Dominic discussed his difficult breakup with Polly Astor. He explained that at 28, and after the birth of their daughter, Martha, he felt he wasn’t ready to commit to a long-term relationship.

When asked if his breakup with Polly was a major regret, Dominic acknowledged it was, adding that he wished his oldest daughter had experienced the same stability and opportunities as his other children.

The actor, who went to Eton College and portrayed Prince Charles in The Crown, said the relationship happened when he wasn’t ready. He explained, ‘I believe I was simply too young – I was only 28 years old.’

He admitted that turning 28 didn’t feel particularly young, especially since he was just finishing drama school and hoping to move to America. He felt the timing was off, and the situation was really tough.

Dominic has talked about the end of his relationship with Polly, explaining it was his decision and he takes responsibility for the pain he caused her. He wasn’t in a place where he wanted to commit to a long-term relationship at the time.

‘I was doing films all over the place and didn’t want to be tied down. Then I got The Wire.’

He mentioned on the podcast this week that he and Polly have successfully repaired their relationship.

He said they’ve become close friends, and that Martha, who is a writer and actress, is now considered part of the family alongside Catherine and their four children: Dora, 19, Senan, 17, Francis, 14, and nine-year-old Christabel.

Dominic met Polly, whose parents were Michael Astor and Nancy Astor – a pioneering female member of the British Parliament – while they were both at university in the late 1990s. They had a daughter, Martha, in 1998, but later separated in 2002.

The actor married landscape designer Catherine in 2010. They now divide their time between London and Glin Castle in Ireland, a historic home that has belonged to Catherine’s family, the FitzGeralds, for over 700 years.

In 2020, Dominic West’s marriage became public news when photos surfaced of him and his co-star, Lily James (36), sharing intimate moments while on vacation in Rome after filming the BBC series, The Pursuit of Love.

Catherine stood by his side, and together they publicly reassured everyone that their marriage was solid and they were still a couple. They did this by showing a note to the press that simply read, ‘Our marriage is strong and we’re very much still together. Thank you.’

This scandal occurred shortly after Dominic faced criticism for remarks he made about infidelity while publicizing his TV show, The Affair.

Back in 2016, he suggested that women should be more understanding about infidelity, even saying it was silly to end a relationship over a brief affair. He specifically argued that people should overlook men’s behavior during their 40s and 50s and simply let it pass.

Okay, so he totally gets it, you know? He was saying that expecting people to only be with one person just isn’t how things naturally work, and honestly, that’s so true. It’s like, of course there’s going to be drama and affairs and stuff when you try to force something that isn’t built into us! He just said it, and it made so much sense. I’ve been saying that for years!

Dominic West has spoken about the controversy surrounding photos of Lily James in 2024, saying it was a very difficult time for his family. He explained that while it was ‘deeply stressful’ for his wife and children at the time, they’ve since been able to laugh about it, even making jokes about publicly appearing together in London as a show of support for each other.

The actor shared that his upbringing by his parents – George, a factory owner, and Moya, an actress – both of Irish heritage, shaped how he approached being a father.

People always said George was incredibly genuine and straightforward. He was a true Yorkshireman – direct and sometimes a little rough around the edges, which could offend some. But he was also very honest, a quality I admire. He strongly believed that being a good father meant being present, taking care of the kids, and handling everyday tasks like cooking.

Let me tell you, going through a divorce at 27 was one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced. Honestly, part of me felt a sense of relief too, though. It wasn’t a sudden thing, you see – it had been building for a while, so while incredibly painful, there was also a part of me that knew, deep down, it was inevitable.

I remember him telling me about his dad leaving and starting over in Ireland, hoping my friend’s mom would join him. It didn’t happen, thankfully. He always said they were both better off apart, and his dad really built a new life for himself over there. It sounds like it was the right decision for everyone involved, even though it was tough at the time.

The actor, one of seven children, said he became particularly close to his father as they both got older.

I grew very close to him during the last decade he spent in Ireland, and we saw each other frequently. He often visited America when I was there, as he had a strong fondness for the country – his mother was American, which likely contributed to that.

He also mentioned that his mother was likely struggling with the divorce even more than he was, and that it had been a difficult time for her.

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2026-01-09 16:34